1909-11 T206 Buck Herzog (New York)
1909–11 T206 Buck Herzog
New York Giants · National League · 150-350 print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Buck Herzog (“New York” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Buck Herzog, a member of the historic New York Giants (National League), and was printed in the 150-350 series, known with 6 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 707 examples have been graded, with only 14 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Buck Herzog
Charles Lincoln "Buck" Herzog (1885-1953) was a scrappy, versatile infielder who John McGraw signed for the New York Giants in 1908, when he hit .300 as a rookie. Over 13 seasons (1908-1920) he played second base, shortstop, and third base almost interchangeably across roughly 1,490 games for the Giants, Boston Doves/Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago Cubs, batting .259 for his career with a peak .310, 157 hits, and 48 steals in 1911. A mainstay of McGraw's Giants, Herzog reached four World Series (1911, 1912, 1913, 1917) but never won one. His signature moment came in the 1912 Series against the Red Sox, when he batted .400 and collected 12 hits, a record that stood for more than half a century. His combative motto, "When you get 'em down, choke 'em," earned him the nickname "Choke 'Em Charley," and his stormy bond with McGraw, who reportedly said, "I hate his guts, but I want him on my club," made him one of the deadball era's most quotable characters. He also managed the Reds from 1914 to 1916. Not a Hall of Famer, Herzog is a common but genuine deadball subject in the T206 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (6)
Chip colour marks each back's rarity tier. See the full T206 back rarity ranking →
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 505 | 13 | 19 | 63 | 114 | 98 | 109 | 89 |
| SGC | 202 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 31 | 54 | 34 | 60 |
NM 7+ bundles grades 7–10; 1 & Auth bundles grade 1, 1.5 & Authentic. Totals are subject-level (summed across all backs). Population as of 2026-06.
PSA by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1909 | 134 |
| Piedmont | 95 |
| Sweet Caporal | 52 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 44 |
| El Principe de Gales | 23 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 20 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 17 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 16 |
| Old Mill | 13 |
| Hindu | 9 |
| Unknown back | 82 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| El Principe de Gales 1909-11 | 14 |
| Hindu 1909-11 | 7 |
| Old Mill 1909-11 | 9 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 39 |
| Sovereign 1909 | 16 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909 | 85 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 2 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 30 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Buck Herzog card?
The Buck Herzog (New York) is one of 524 subjects in the T206 "White Border" tobacco set issued 1909-1911, the hobby's most iconic vintage set (nicknamed "The Monster"). It pictures the New York Giants player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 6 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 707 examples of the Buck Herzog have been graded, with only 14 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Buck Herzog come with?
The Buck Herzog is confirmed with 6 tobacco-brand backs: El Principe de Gales, Hindu, Old Mill, Piedmont, Sovereign, Sweet Caporal. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Buck Herzog valuable?
Value depends heavily on the back brand and the card's grade: common backs in low grade trade modestly, while scarce backs and high grades command strong premiums. Check the current T206 Cards listings and eBay options above for live pricing.
Other poses of Buck Herzog
More New York Giants cards
Sources: t206resource.com, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and Inside T206 by Scot Reader. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.